Laundry apparatus



July 31. 1951 Filed Nov. 20, 1948 c. M. DUNLAP 2,562,533

LAUNDRY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /6 CHA RLSMDUNLAP BW ATTORNEY July 3l, 1951 c. M. DUNLAP 2562533 LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1 948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTOR E. v CHARLESIMUVLAP il BQD/M ATTORNEY Patented July Y31, 1951 LAUNDRY APPARATUS Charles M. Dunlap, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 20, 1948, Serial No. 61,277

8 Claims.

My invention relates to clothes washing machines of the type including a tub structure in which the clothes are washed in a body of water and are dried, after the removal of free water from the tub, by withdrawing aA substantial portion of the air from the tub to effect either the vaporization of water from the clothes at low pressure and temperature or the mechanically squeezing of water from the clothes where a co1- lapsible tub formed of resilient material is employed. The latter type of machine employs a vacuum pump for discharging from the tub a. substantial portion of the air contained therein after the washing water is withdrawn, whereupon the pressure of the atmosphere collapses the tub around the bundle of clothes for the extraction of water therefrom.

An object of my invention is to provide improved means for admitting water to the tub of a washer of the types set forth, wherein reverse flow of water or suds to the Water mains serving the washer is prevented'at all times and wherein leakage of air into the tub during extracting periods is precluded.

Many municipalities require that washing machines connected to their water mains be provided with devices for preventing reverse flow of water or suds to the mains in the event that, for any reason, a subatmospheric pressure is produced in the mains. These devices are commonly referred to as vacuum breakers and include an air gap in the conduit serving the washer" so that, if a lower than atmospheric pressure prevails in the mains, air will enter the conduit through the gap and prevent the withdrawal of water from the tub. This regulation presents a problem in a washer of the types set forth as a low pressure is produced in the tub during extraction periods and, therefore, the passage of air through the vacuum breaker to the tub must be precluded.

Further objects of my invention are, therefore, to prevent, in a Washer of the types set forth, reverse flow of water from the tub to the watermains serving the washer and admission of air to the tub when the latter is being evacuated for the extraction of water from the clothes.

The foregoing and other. objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view taken through a clothes washing and extracting machine constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention;

I I have shown my invention applied to a clothes washing and extracting machine of the type including a collapsible tub structure, generally indicated at I II, and having'side, bottom and top walls Il,l I2 and I3, respectively, integrally formed of rubber or the like. During washing periods or when the tub I0 contains a body 'of washing water, the walls of the tub are positioned as shown in Fig. l but, when a vsubstantial portion of the air is withdrawn from the tub l0, as'described hereinafter, the wall members collapse inwardly under the influence of atmospheric pressure and engage the bundle of fabrics in the tub for squeezing washing fluid therefrom. The tub I0 is supported by a casing, generally indicated at I4 and including a side wall structure I5 and a top wall I6, the latter being provided with an access opening indicated at I'I. The top wall I3 of the tub is clamped in any suitable manner, as shown at I8, to the top wall I6 of the casing. The bottom Wall l2 of the tub rests upon a generally horizontal partition I9 forming a part of the casing structure I4. A clamping plate 2| is employed for securing the center of the bottom wall I2 of the tub to the partition I9. As shown, bolts 22 are employed for securing the clamping plate 2| to the partition I9 and these bolts 22 also serve to support a sump structure, indicated at 23, from the underside of the partition I9.

A suitable door, indicated at 24, serves to close the access opening Il during operating periods of the machine and is provided with a gasket 25 to provide an air-tight seal with the top wall I6 of the casing. The door 24 is suitably hinged, as shown at 26, to the top wall I6 of the casing so that the door 24 may be swung upwardly-to its open position.

Arranged interiorly of tub is an agitator 21 having a center post 28 and vanes 29. The agitator is splined or otherwise secured to a hollow shaft 3| which extends downwardly through the clamping plate 2l and sump structure 23 and driven by a conventional oscillating gear mechanism, generally indicated at 32 and carried by the casing |4. A water and air-tight seal 33 of any well known construction is provided between the shaft 3| and the sump structure 23 for preventing the escape of water from the sump and the admission of air to the sump. A plurality of water passages indicated at 34 are provided in the agitator 21 and shaft 3| for the passage of water from the tub I8 to the interior of the shaft 3| during the draining of vitiated water from the tub l0. The hollow shaft 3| is also provided with a plurality of openings 35 for the discharge of water from the hollow shaft 3| to the interior of the sump 23. It will be noted that the bottom portion of the shaft 3| indicated at 36 is solid where it passesl through the seal 33 and enters the transmission 32.

During washing operations, it will be understood that the agitator 21 is oscillated by the transmission 32 for effecting the washing of clothes in a well understood manner. A's the construction and operation of conventional transmissions of the type shown at 32 are so well understood in the art, further description of the transmission is deemed unnecessary. The t'ransmission 32 is driven by a reversible, electric motor, indicated at 31, through a unidirectional clutch generally shown at 38.A The motor 31 is reversible and it will be understood that its shaft, indicated at 39, when driven in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, serves to drive the transmisin the inclined recessesv 42 and bind the shaft 39 and sleeve 4|` to provide a driving connection c :therebetween when the shaft 39 is rotated in the direction of'the arrow. When the shaft 39 is driven in'the opposite direction, the balls 43 move {1j-to the deep portions of the recesses 42 and, there- -for,e, the shaft 39 will rotate Vfreely with respect to the sleeve 4|.

Vitia-ted water and air are discharged from the tub I8, at the conclusion of a washing operation by means ofv a pump structure indicated generally at.-44, theinlet of which connects by means of a conduit 4s with the interior of the sump soma.

ture 23., A suitable valve 46 shown by way of examp1e"as a. vsolenoid operated valve, controls flow of vwater and air from the sump to the pump 44.

r The discharge side of the pump is connected by means of a conduit 41 to a suitable drain. The

pump. 44 is driven by the motor 31 through a .clutch'generally indicated at 48 and shown in Figi-6. The clutch 48 is similar in construction to the clutch 38 and includes a driven sleeve 49 which is connected to the rotating element of the pump 44. The clutch 43 is reversely arranged with respect to the clutch 38 so that the motor 31. drives either the transmission 32 or the pump 44. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when the motor shaft 39 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in these two figures, the transmission is driven by means of the clutch 38 and the pump driving sleeve 49 is stationary. Reversing the direction of rotation of the motor will cause operation of the pump as the sleeve 49 will rotate with the shaft 39 and operation of the transmission 32 will be terminated as the shaft 39 of the motor runs free with respect .to the sleeve 4| which vdrives the transmission. V

In accordance with my invention, a device, generally shown at 5| is employed for admitting water to the tub I0, for preventing reverse flow of water or suds from the tub to a water supply conduit 52 in the event that a. sub-atmospheric pressure is produced in the conduit 52 and for preventing admission of air to the tub I0 when the pump 44 is operated to evacuate the tub I0 for the extraction of water from the clothes being treated. The device 5| is shown enlarged in Figs. 3 and 4 and includes a check valve member 53 preferably, integrally moulded of a resilient material such as, for example, rubber. Preferably, the valve member 53 is carried by the door 24, the latter being formed of outer and inner panels 54 and 55 which are joined at their peripheries but which are spaced apart at their centers.

The member 53 includes a hollow body or conduit portion 56 which extends through the door wall 55 and which encloses a water passage 51. The lower or inner end of the body 56 is flattened for defining a pair of lips, indicated at 58, which are normally engaged as shown. The outer portion of the member 53 is of converging-diverging construction and includes a flattened portion which defines a second pair of normally engaged lips 59 which are intermediate an open top water receiving chamber 68 and the passage 51. Water under pressure is delivered to the chamber by a pipe 6| whose discharge end is spaced above the member 53 and in alignment with the chamber 60 whereby an air gap 68a is defined. The pipe 6| is connected to the conduit 52 through a control valve 62 shown, by way of example, as a solenoid operated valve. As shown, the pipe 8| is fixed to the door panel 54 and moves with the door. In order to provide such movement, a swiveling conduit fitting 63 of any well-understood construction is connected to the pipe 6| and is aligned with the hinges 28. A pipe 64 fixed to the casing wall |6 connects the swivel conduit 63 and the valve 62.

When water is to be admitted to the tub, the valve 62 is energized and opened. A stream of Water is directed by the pipe 6| into the chamber 60 and the kinetic energy of the stream forces the lips 59 apart to permit the flow of water to the passage 51. The kinetic energy of the stream passing tothe passage 51 forces the lips 58 apart for the delivery of the water to the tub I8. When the fiow of water is terminated by the closing of valve 62, the lips 58 and 59, by the inherent bias of the rubber forming the member 53, close. If at any time, a sub-atmospheric pressure obtains in the pipe 6|, air will enter the pipe 6| at the gap 60a and, therefore, no water or suds can be withdrawn from the tub. Even though an excess of suds is present in the tub, no suds can pass to the chamber 66 and span the gap 68a as the pair of lips 58 and 59 are engaged to isolate the chamber 60 from the tub.

During the filling of the tub l0 with water, it is necessary to discharge air from the tub as the water rises therein. A check valve shown at 65 may be provided for the discharge of air from the tub and is preferably integrally formed of resilient rubber or the like. The check valve 65 includes a wall 66 generally circular in cross section and flattened, as shown, to define a pair of lips 61 which are normally engaged. During the filling of the tub with water, air displaced thereby, forces the lips 61 apart for the discharge of such air to the space between the door panels 54 and 55 and thence the ambient atmosphere through an oriiice 54a provided in the panel 54.

The check valve members 5I and 45 may be secured to the door 24 in any well understood manner. As shown, the members 5I and 65 are provided with respective outwardly extending flanges 63 and 69 which are clamped between the door panel 55 and a plate 10 by means of bolts 1|. 'I'he outer end of the valve member 5| is provided with a flange 12 which is clamped to the outer door panel 54 by a plate 13 secured to the panel 54 by screws 14.

When sufficient water is admitted to the tub l as described, the valve 62 is closed and the motor 31 is energized to rotate the shaft 39 in the ,direction of the arrow in Figs. and 6. Accordingly, the agitator 21 is oscillated to effect the washing of the clothes in a well understood manner. At the conclusion of the washing period, the direction of rotation of the motor 31 is reversed and the valve 46 is opened. Accordingly, oscillation of the agitator ceases as the clutch 38 now over runs and operation of the pump 44 is initiated as the motor shaft 39 drives the rotating element of the pump through the engaged clutch 48. Water is now discharged from the tub l0 and a partial vacuum is provided in the tub I0 as the level of the water recedes. The admission of air to the tub is prevented at this time as both pairs of lips 59 and 61 are firmly forced into engagement by the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere. Any air present in the chamber 51 will, of course, pass to the tub through the lips 58 which may be separated by any pressure difference obtaining' in the chamber 51 and the tub l0.

As the pressurewithin the tub l0 decreases, the tub walls collapse inwardly due to atmospheric pressure. At this time, the outer portion of the bottom wall I2 will move upwardly and the side walls Il of the tub move inwardly. 'Ihese wall portions wrap around the body of fabrics in the tub and compress the body of fabrics against the agitator structure 21. After the water has been removed from the tub, continued operation of the pump 44 withdraws air and moisture from the tub. The pressure of the tub walls against the bundle of fabrics squeezes water from the fabrics, which water passes through the openings 34 to the interior of the shaft 3l and thence through the openings to the interior of the sump. This extracted Water then passes through the conduit and is discharged by the pump 44.

At the conclusion of the extracting operation, the motor 31 is deenergized. A suitable air relief valve (not shown) may be provided for admitting air to the interior of the tub I0 so that the operator may swing the door 24 to its open position to gain access to the fabrics.

From the foregoing description, it will be aD- parent that I have provided an improved simple and inexpensive mechanism for admitting water to a washing machine of the type set forth herein, which mechanism effectively prevents reverse flow of water or suds lfrom the machine when a sub-atmospheric pressure is produced in the water conduit serving the machine and, furthermore, precludes the admission of air to the machine during extraction periods,

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, the combination of` a tub structure for containing a body of water and the material to be washed, means for washing the material in the tub structure. a water admission member carried by the tub structure and having a wall structure formed of resilient deformable material, said wall structure defining an open end .chamber at one end thereof communicating with the ambient atmosphere and a water passage at the opposite end thereof,

said wall structure being flattened intermediate the chamber and passage for defining a pair of engaged lips, a conduit having the discharge end thereof spaced above said one end of the wall structure lsind aligned with said open end chamber, said lips being separated when engaged by a stream of water passing from said conduit to said chamber, a check valve for delivering water from said passage to the tub structure and preventing reverse flow of water or air to the passage and means for withdrawing water and air at sub-atmosplieric pressure from the tub structure at the conclusion of a washing operation.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 including a second check valve for discharging air from the tub structure during the admission of water thereto.

3. In a machine for washing fabrics and for extracting water therefrom, the combination of a tub 4structure for containing a body of washing water and the fabrics to be treated, said tub structure having at least a portion of the wall members thereof formed of resilient deformable material to provide for the collapsing of such wall members, means for agitating the fabrics in said body of washing water, a conduit extending through a wall of said tub structure and having a passage for water therein, a check valve connected to said conduit interiorly of the tub and normally closed to prevent escape of fluid from the tub structure to said passage, said check valve being opened in response to the admission of a stream of water to said passage, a second check valve structure having a body formed of resilient deformable material connected to the conduit, said body having an open top-,fwater receiving chamber formed in the upper end thereof and communicating with the ambient atmosphere and said body including a pair of normally engaged flat lips intermediate said chamber and passage, said lips being deformed and separated when contacted by a stream of water admitted to said chamber, means for admitting water to the chamber including a conduit aligned substantially with the chamber and terminating inV spaced relation with said upper end of said body and means for withdrawing water and air at sub-atmospheric pressure from the tub structure at the conclusion of a washing operation in order to collapse the resilient tub walls around the fabrics for the squeezing of water therefrom,

the construction and arrangement being suoliv that said lips are firmly forced into engagement by atmospheric pressure when a sub-atmospheric pressure is produced in the tub structure by said withdrawing means and admission of air to the tub structure is prevented.

4. Ina machine for washing fabrics and for y 76'cluding a body portion secured to a wall of the tub structure, said body portion having a passage formed therein for the delivery of water to the tub structure, said body portion having a pair of normally engaged flat lips formed on the inner end thereof for closing said passage to the tub structure. said lips being separated when contacted by a stream of water admitted to the passage, said body portion being of convergingdiverging construction at the outer end thereof for defining an open water receiving chamber at the outermost end of the body portion communicating with the ambient atmosphere and a second pair of fiat lips intermediate said open chamber and said passage, said second pair of lips being normally engaged for closing said passage and separated when contacted by a stream of water admitted to said open chamber, said second pair of lips being exteriorly subjected to the pressure of the ambient atmosphere, a Water supply conduit aligned with said open chamber and terminating in spaced relation therewith for the discharge of a stream of water under pressure to the chamber, and means for withdrawing water and air from the tub structure at the conclusion of a washing operation.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 including a second check valve member for discharging air from the tub during the admission of water thereto.

6. In a machine for washing fabrics and for extracting water therefrom, the combination of a casing structure having side walls and a top wall carried thereby, a collapsible tub formed of resilient material and including a bottom wall, a

side wall 'and a top wall underlying and secured to the top wall of the casing structure, said top walls having registering access openings therein, a door hinged to the casing and closing the access opening of the tub, a check valve member including a body of resilient material carried by said door, said body having a water passage therein, said inner portion of the body having a pair of fiat lips normally engaged for closing the inner end of said passage, said lips being deformed and separated when contacted by a stream of Water admitted to said passagesaid outer portion of said body being generally of converging-diverging construction for defining an open top chamber at the upper end of the body and a second pair of engaging fiat lips intermediate the chamberk and passage, said second pair of lips being normally engaged and separated when contacted by a stream of water admitted to the chamber, a water 5 thereby, and means for discharging vitiated water and air from the tub at the conclusion of a washing operation.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 8 including a second check valve structure carried by 10 said door for releasing air from the tub during the admission of water thereto.

8. In a machine for washing fabrics and for extracting water therefrom, the combination of a tub structure for containing a body of water 15 and the fabrics te be cleaned, seid tub structure having an access opening therein and said tub structure having at least a portion of the wall members thereof formed of resilient deformable material, means for washing the fabrics within 20 the tub structure, a door for closing said access opening and hinged to the tub structure, said door having spaced apart inner and outer panels, a water admission device extending between the panels of the door and including a member 5 formed of resilient deformable material. said member being secured to the outer panel of the door and having an open end chamber and a passage formed therein, said member having the walls thereof flattened to define a pair of normally engaging lips separating said chamber and passage, a check valve carried by the inner panel and connected to said member for the delivery of water from said passage to the tub structure, a flexible conduit carried by the tub structure and 5 having an end thereof nxed te the door and spaced above said fitting for the discharge of water to said open end chamber, a second check valve structure for discharging air from the tub, and means for discharging water and air from the 0`tub at theconlusion of thewashing operation.

CHARLES M. DUNLAP.

L? "nEFEaENcEs crrED The following references are of record in the if me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

